The South Blackstone Smart Mobility Strategy is Fresno’s newest transportation and corridor improvement plan, aiming to transform a major stretch of Blackstone Avenue into a more “walkable, bike-friendly and sustainable” destination. The project promises new bike lanes, wider sidewalks and landscaping upgrades — part of a broader effort to modernize how people move through and experience one of Fresno’s busiest commercial corridors.
On paper, the goals sound admirable: reduce car dependency, encourage cleaner transportation and make the area more attractive for residents and businesses. But as the city moves forward, an important question arises: Can infrastructure succeed if safety, homelessness and economic stability remain unaddressed?
You can’t beautify your way out of dysfunction. Painting over rust might make something look better for a moment, but the corrosion will always return…